Gary Sobers: Cricket Legend
Sir Garfield St. Auburn Sobers, AO, OCC, (born July 28, 1936), also known as Gary or Garry Sobers, is a retired cricketer considered to be the best all-rounders of all time and who also became a national hero of Barbados. He made his first-class debut when he was 16 in 1953 for the Barbados cricket team and his Test debut for the West Indies in 1954. He regularly played cricket when was 13 to 17 for senior sides in Barbados. He played for Barbados 1952-1974), South Australia (1961-1964) and Nottinghamshire (1968-1974) and the West Indies.
Greatest Sporting Achievements
Sobers scored a total of 8032 runs with an average of 57.78 and taking 235 wickets with an average of 34.03 for the West Indies. He was West Indian Cricket Cricketer of the Year in 1958-59, Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1964, Walter Lawrence Trophy winner in 1974 and Wisden Cricketer of the Century in 2000. In the 1975 New Year Honors List, Queen Elizabeth II created Sobers a Knight Bachelor for his services to the sport. In 1998, he was made National Hero of Barbados by the Cabinet of Barbados and is given the honorary prefix, “The Right Excellent”. The ICC inaugurated the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy awarded to the player selected by ICC as its player of the year.
Why Was He So Good?
Gary Sobers was one of the most entertaining all-rounders. In 1960s, he became both the greatest batsman and greatest bowlers of the decade. He was a talented fielder and a determined sportsman of the game. His cricketing skills took him to international fame and as a result, he has long been viewed as a cricketing genius and a master of skillful play in the history of the game.
What You May Not Know
- Besides cricket, Sobers was also naturally talented at playing football, golf and basketball for Barbados.
He was the first batsman to hit six sixes and the historic ball he hit was auctioned off by Christies for a record £54,257. - Gary Sobers was captain of so many cricket teams – West Indies (39 times), Barbados and the Rest of the World Team for two tours.
- He wrote factual books about cricket like King Cricket (1967), Sobers; The Changing Face of Cricket (1996), Sobers; Twenty Years at the Top (1988) and many more.
Related Pages
- More cricket players
- About Cricket
- Athlete Database home
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